London, May 21 :

England opted out Stephen Harmison when they named a 12-man squad on Sunday for next week’s second Test against Sri Lanka.

Harmison has been sidelined from international action since sustaining a shin injury before the second Test in Mumbai two months ago. But following his recent return to county cricket there had been speculation that he would be included in the squad for the second of a three-match series which starts at Edgbaston on Thursday.

Uncapped seamer Jon Lewis, in the 13-man squad at Lord’s, retained his place but the selectors have omitted spare batsman Ian Bell.

Andrew Flintoff will captain the side in the absence of Michael Vaughan.

SQUAD: Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Geraint Jones, Liam Plunkett, Sajid Mahmood, Matthew Hoggard, Monty Panesar, Jon Lewis.